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Russia's Sad G-8 Presidency

By

Frederick KempeThe Wall Street Journal

Updated Jan. 3, 2006 11:59 p.m. ET

When the West decided to add Moscow to the G-7 leaders of developed countries, making it eight, the purpose was to encourage the country's civilized, democratic direction. Yet Russia's first act of 2006, which begins its one-year G-8 presidency, was to cut off gas supplies from Ukraine when it balked at a four-fold price increase in violation of an existing contract.

The use of energy as a weapon against the most important country to leave Russia's political orbit will bring calls to remove Russia from the world's most elite...